Study Guide

The author, Helen Smith Shoemaker’s obituary. (1903- 1993) Prayer warrior. The article sums up her life as an author, sculptor, and church leader, died of a stroke at Meridan Healthcare Center in Brooklandville, Md. She was 89. (1 )

The former Helen Dominick Smith was born in New York City. She was the daughter of the late H. Alexander Smith, who was a U. S. senator from New Jersey from 1944 to 1958, and Helen Babcock Dominick.

Helen Smith Shoemaker (March 16, 1903-January 29, 1993) was an American author, sculptor, and Episcopalian church leader, and Co-founder and Co-founder of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer.(2)

Biographical Points: Born in New York City. Educated in Colorado, Princeton, New Jersey, and Florence, Italy. She studied art in Paris and New York .Attracted to Moral Re-Armament Movement (MRA) in the 1920’s in New York.

She met and married Dr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker (December 27, 1893 – October 31, 1963). He was considered as one of the best preachers in that era. He served as rector of Calvary Episcopal Church. (3)

Shoemaker’s contribution and service to Alcoholic’s Anonymous had a worldwide effect. The philosophy that Shoemaker codified in conjunction with Bill Wilson, is used in almost every country around the world to treat alcoholism. Similar programs are used to help relatives of alcoholics, as well as people suffering with other addictions such as to narcotics. (3)

Introduction to the Course: This is the third time I’ve taught from this book, The Secret of Effective Prayer. I wrote a Reading Guide to assist with the study and learning process. This Guide is helpful, because our group and other bloggers will be able to track the intended answers by the page numbers that are provided.

Introduction to the Book, The Secret of Effective Prayer by Helen Smith Shoemaker, Word Book, Waco Texas, 1967. Homewords Group members have provided books for the participants of the prayer group.